[Nevertheless] Voices Rise

There are girls in this world who are sold to the highest bidder. And sold again and again every day. Not just in "other places," but here in the United States. Everywhere. 

There are girls in this world who can't get an education, or have to work a job or two or three in order to afford to go to school. This, in addition to household chores, taking care of siblings or other family members, and everything else that goes into daily living.

There are girls in this world who witness their mothers being abused and women stuck in a cycle of abuse from which they see no escape. 

There are girls ... thirteen girls in particular ... who broke their silence to give voice to these girls' stories.

They gave voice to female immigrants, who struggle to secure housing, find stable employment, and build community; to girls in different countries who have to work to support their male siblings' ability to attend school or to be able to afford schooling for themselves; to girls and women trapped in abusive relationships; and to sex trafficked girls, stolen, lured from, or sold by their families into the international sex trade. 

They also brought to light to women who have never known want and who believe hard work is all it takes to rise above poverty and oppression; who turn a blind eye to those in need, or worse - look down on the abused, the broken, the hurting, believing that if they just worked hard enough, had enough confidence in themselves, they could rise above their circumstances. 

And women who see what's going on around them and do what they can to help, however small. Women who know the value in a smile shared, a hand given, a simple conversation or caring act. Women who will stand up and speak out when needed. 

And they gave voice to those who by some miracle escaped their life of oppression, living within the echoes of that life every day. Those who go on to do what they can to save, to help, to give voice to those left behind.

In Voices Rise, these amazing teenagers challenged us all to open our ears to the pleas of the oppressed, the enslaved, the abused, the alone. They shed light on the heroes who live these lives every day and the heroes who make a huge difference in others' lives through kindness, sharing God's love, and reaching out in love and support. 

What will it take to prune our self-absorption enough to open our eyes... to give hope and a voice to our sisters here and around the world who remain silenced and oppressed? 

[Breaking Silences is a program for teen girls at Epoch Arts in East Hampton, CT. Photos courtesy of Epoch Arts.]